A month and a half after Palm debuted the Palm Pixi, they're announcing the release date and price: $99, November 15th, Sprint (just as we had guessed). That's after a $50 'instant' rebate and a $100 mail-in rebate, so customers will be laying down $199.99 at the point-of-purchase.
The price is pretty much what we expected, whereby "pretty much," we mean "exactly." The device is designed to appeal to the mass consumer and is the true successor to the Palm Centro. Remarkably thin, the Pixi will also have Touchstone cover available at launch too for $19. No word on the artist series covers - availability or price.
We like the price on the artist covers. We like the Pixi's price too, but the mail-in rebate seems like a problem - a bigger problem than it was with the Pre... or so it seems to me. $199 at the point-of-purchase for a device meant for the mass-consumer seems too high. (Update: as rpiatt notes in the comments, it's more Sprint than Palm who sets the price - so heap your scorn or adulation upon them)
You can read our first impressions of the Pixi here. If you're looking for a refresher on specs, the main thing to remember is that it lacks WiFi, has a slightly smaller screen, and a slightly slower processor. The combination of those three things mean that unless you're completely in love with the form factor (and we won't blame you if you are), Pre owners will probably want to stick with their current phone.
What do you think of the Pixi's price?
Full Press Release after the break
Palm Pixi Available Nov. 15 for Just $99.99 Exclusively from Sprint
Application Development For Palm webOS Devices Powered by America’s Most Dependable 3G Network Will Be a Leading Topic at Sprint’s Open Developer Conference Starting Today
OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 26, 2009-- Sprint (NYSE: S) today announced Nov. 15 as the first day of nationwide availability for Palm® Pixi™, exclusively available on America’s most dependable 3G network1 from Sprint2. It will cost just $99.99 with a two-year service agreement, after a $50 instant rebate and $100 mail-in rebate and be available at Sprint stores, online at www.sprint.com, through telesales at 1-800-SPRINT1, and at Best Buy, RadioShack and select Wal-Mart stores.
“We are excited to offer the new Palm Pixi to our customers in time for the holiday season, and it’s a great addition to Sprint’s industry-leading device portfolio,” said Kevin Packingham, senior vice president – Product Development, Sprint. “Simply put, this phone is fun and easy to use; with its multi-touch screen and full QWERTY keyboard, it’s a great device for messaging and social networking at a price everyone can enjoy, and delivers so many of the great features people love about Palm Pre™ in a fantastic new form factor, making it a huge hit for consumers.”
Running the Palm webOS™ mobile platform, Palm Pixi lets the user keep multiple activities open and move easily between them, like flipping through a deck of cards, using natural gestures. This allows for easy movement between messaging and email or searching the Web while listening to music, and items are rearranged simply by dragging them. Universal search also makes finding things easy, providing results from both the device and the Web.
Palm webOS brings together the user’s most important information from their phone, at work or on the Web into one logical view. In addition to linking information from Google™, Facebook®, Microsoft® Exchange ActiveSync® and LinkedIn®, Palm Pixi adds Yahoo!® integration to Palm Synergy™3. Palm Synergy offers:
* Linked contacts – A single view that links contacts from a variety of sources, so accessing them is easier than ever.
* Layered calendars – Calendars can be seen on their own or layered together in a single view, combining work, family, friends, sports teams or other interests, and the user can toggle to look at one calendar at a time, or see them all at a glance.
* Combined messaging – See all the conversations with the same person in a chat-style view, including MMS, even if it started in IM and switched to reply with text messaging. The user can also see who’s active in a buddy list right from contacts or email, and start a new conversation with just one touch.
A new Facebook application will be available with Palm Pixi, so users can see and comment on all the latest news from friends and easily update their status. Palm Pixi features an exposed full QWERTY keyboard, multi-touch screen and a durable, removable rubberized back cover.
While Palm Pixi comes with a charger included in the box, Palm recently introduced the Touchstone™ charging dock, the first inductive charging solution for phones. Touchstone, along with the Touchstone compatible back cover (both sold separately), allows Palm Pixi to be set on top of the dock without worrying about connection, orientation or fit. The device remains active while charging, allowing access to the touch screen, movies or video, or the speakerphone option. Touchstone is available in Sprint stores nationwide for $79.99 and includes a Touchstone charger and USB wall charger. The Pixi Touchstone back cover is also available for $19.99 (plus taxes).
Palm Pixi requires activation on a pricing plan including unlimited data, such as Sprint’s Everything Data plans with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM, which give customers unlimited mobile calling on the Sprint network to and from any U.S. wireless carrier, unlimited nationwide texting, email, Web browsing and much more, starting at just $69.99. The Simply EverythingSM plan from Sprint offers a truly unlimited experience for only $99.99 per month, a savings of $1,200 over two years versus a comparable AT&T iPhone® plan4. (All price plans exclude surcharges and taxes. Other exclusions apply.)
Customers who subscribe to an Everything Data plan are also automatically enrolled in Sprint Premier, the industry-leading loyalty program. The Premier program provides customers with great benefits such as annual upgrades, discounts on accessories, anniversary rewards, rate plan checkups and “first to know” information about the latest at Sprint.
Palm Pixi will take advantage of the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network (inclusive of data roaming), which reaches more than 269 million people, 18,652 cities and 1,838 airports. The Sprint Networks (inclusive of data roaming) have more than twice the coverage of AT&T’s current 3G network and more than 15 times the coverage of T-Mobile’s current 3G network, both based on square miles5.
Sprint is also the only wireless carrier to offer Ready Now with trained retail associates to work one-on-one with customers to personalize their Palm Pixi, set up features and demonstrate how it works before the customer leaves the store. Customers have the choice of sitting down with a Sprint retail associate at the time of purchase or they can schedule an appointment for a later time at www.sprint.com/storelocator.
Application developers will have a chance to learn more about Palm webOS at Sprint’s ninth annual developer conference beginning today in Santa Clara, Calif. The Sprint Open Developer Conference is open to all developers and will feature information through speaker sessions and coding camps on developing applications for a range of platforms, including webOS. Palm is a premier sponsor of the conference, and Ben Galbraith and Dion Almaer, directors of Developer Relations for Palm, will be giving a keynote address in addition to running several breakout sessions and coding camps focusing on the webOS platform. For details, go to http://developer.sprint.com/devcon2009.
Customers who would like to register to receive additional information about Palm Pixi can register at www.palm.com/pixi.
Comments
It needs wifi. And it needs to be $79.
But I don't really care, I'm not interested in the Pixi (although I hope it sells well for Palm's sake.)
What I want is a SuperPre/PreII. I want it to have a snapdragon 1ghz proc, 512mB RAM, and 16gB of storage, and a 3.5" 640x480 screen, and a 1650mah battery. I'd pay $300 after rebates/contract for that. :-)
Yes, the price is too high considering its lack of WiFi. Without WiFi you are narrowing your potential purchasers to mainstream customers and they do not like to spend oodles of money on their phones. If it had WiFi and the same camera as the Pre, $99 would fly.
Agree. Even though I often find when using my Pre that my web access is just as fast on Sprint as it is when connected to WiFi, that doesn't mean that the Pixie shouldn't have it.
WebOS is nice, but the only reason to choose the Pixie over the iPhone is (1) because you don't want to switch to AT&T and/or (2) you really want a physical keyboard.
As with the Pre, I don't understand Sprint's infatuation with the mail in rebate. All that accomplishes is sending buyers to Radio Shack and Best Buy, which I would think costs Sprint more than if they sell a phone through a corporate store.
I guess I don't get it. So Palm/Sprint can lower the cost by not having wifi, slower processor, and smaller screen, but you want them to add wifi back in and drop the price even more?
Do you think that a $50 price drop (I believe a Pre is $149 these days) is sufficient given the lack of WiFi, the smaller screen and the weaker processor?
Especially in the face of the $99 iPhone 3G with WiFi, a much larger screen, and a MUCH larger application base?
Maybe I'm doing the math wrong but wouldn't $99, with a $100 mail in rebate, and $50 instant rebate, bring the point of purchase to $199? with a full retail at $249?
Actually thats $199 at point of purchase--$50 of the rebat is instant. And I'm sure Best Buy and other retailers will keep what they're doing and make all the rebates instant.
this is WAY too much... they should have gone with $49-75 with NO REBATE!! They are going up against the $99 iPhone with NO REBATE at at&t. And need I mention that the iPhone 3G has wifi, not to mention a ton of other things the Pixi is missing. Come on Sprint!!!!
I'm guessing we can expect a WebOS 1.3 update around Nov. 15th, then?
Just a point of clarification on a flawed poll. Palm is not setting the price here. SPRINT is. So your poll should ask about SPRINT setting the price too low or too high (or just right)
Sales tax to be paid on the full retail price of $249. Way to waste everyone's money, Sprint! You could have given everbody a nice retail case instead.
Yeahh!! Great! Now can we please get the FB app and Yahoo Integration software update; and maybe some new notification features....... please?
The misadventures of Palm and Sprint continue. May as well give this phone away on contract. The real sell is getting the target buyers on the data plans.
BTW...who is the Pre targeting if this Pixi is after the mainstream? I view the Pre as a starter (low end)smartphone..not exactly high end. And that has nothing to do with processor but just how limited webOS is, limited features, light weight apps, and a very user friendly UI.
The Pixi then is targeting the same crowd but moreso those who want the form factor or nonslider.
Comparisons to the Centro can only be made in form factor only. The Centro was the best Palm OS had to offer. The Pixi is hardly the same case.
Bottom line, this was a mistake and will come back to bite a company that didn't learn its lesson the first time. Shame on Palm this time. First priority is making a profit. Palm needs to shift focus to the medium-high end and stop making toys.
So did you consider the iphone a low end smart phone when it first came out? I admit the pre should have launched with alot of stuff that it is currently missing i.e. text fwding, video. We can thank the iphone for palm thinking it is alright to lauch a phone without all the normal standard features. Once webos gets going and better features are added i think it will surpass anything any other smart phone will be able to do. The iphone was around for more then a year prior to the app store and it just got mms. Early adopters always have to wait for full features and bugs to get worked out it doesn't matter what you buy. Give the pre a chance to come to its full potential instead of 4 months.
The iPhone wasn't a smartphone when it first came out, and wasn't marketed as such - it was sold an iPod and a phone in one rather than a phone than syncs to iTunes (since after the Motorola Rokr didn't do so well). It was a media-centric phone. Now that the app store is out, which takes advantage of all the capabilities of the device, it's a front-runner as one of the easiest to use and most feature-rich phones. That's not what it started out as, but it is what the Pre (and Pixi) has to compete with now. A 1st generation iPhone doesn't compete in the current market - the 3G and 3GS iPhones do. If Palm can't compete with those. If Sprint had the iPhone, it would trounce either WebOS device in sales. No wonder developers don't want to spend resources on WebOS right now.
I'm curious what the battery life on this sucker will be. I would expect the smaller screen and processor to decrease the battery drain.
You make a good point, but battery is mostly a webOS issue, not a hardware issue.
The webOS need CPU scaling. The Pre is currently running at 500Mhz, whether you are completely idle, or playing 3 games at once.
so would be safe to assume that 249 is the non-contract price or what? Or is it going to be higher than that? Even if its 349 that's waaaaaayyyyy too much to be asking for this phone, especially lacking the features it is. I mean its not stripped, but for a ohone that's being marketed toward the mainstream everyday user during the holiday sales perios, that price needs to drop significantly.
We all know the price will go down within 45 days of launch, just like it did on the Pre. we all know that Sprint wants to get at least SOME premium from the early adopters and all these devices have such a short life-span on the "WOW" factor that they need to do this to generate profit early on, because in all likelihood they'll drop the price to $79 before Christmas, no?
Dieter, your post title currently reads:
"Palm Pixi To Hit Spint November 15th, $99.99"
I believe Sprint is generally spelled with an R in it. ;)
GO WEBOS!!!!
The biggest problem I see with the Pixie is it appears to be muddying the message and abandoning the Pre. As a comparison, Apple did not abandon the iPhone 3G, they simply moved it down market while at the same time, introducing a higher end model. They did not take features away from the 3G to lower the price. They did not make a stripped down version. They stood by the iPhone 3G by selling it just as it was, only at a reduced price. They did not need to reinvent it to sell it.
Palm could have kept the Pre and moved it down market by reducing the price. That would have set them up to make something even better like, say, the Post Pre. :) Instead, their message is confusing. Is the Pre supposed to be the flagship, aspirational phone? Is it the best Palm has to offer? The Pixie is not a sequel but a, (pardon the pun) prequel. It does not advance the platform but regresses it.
Finally, what's up with the whole sleazy mail-in rebate. That has felt slimy from the very beginning. Bottom line, I don't see the Pixie as anything more than a distraction.
I disagree only in that under your proposed scenario we would have had to wait for the Pre, since Palm would\should have released the Pixi first, then moved that phone downmarket to release the Pre. Palm wants another presence in the marketplace and doesn't want to wait another year to downmarket the Pre.
I have no problem with the Pixi coming out after the Pre. The Pre is still the flagship for WebOS. Palm and Sprint will still be supporting the Pre. The Pixi is just another option for anyone who likes the form factor or who will ultimately be lured by the price.
I continue to think the price point is targetted at early adopters and I believe the price-point will drop rather quickly after release, much as we saw with the Pre.
The Pixi gets another, and markedly different, handset running a great OS. I am all for diversity in the marketplace. This phone will sell.
Aren't you comparing this incorrectly? Apple has one phone product; the iPhone. When they come out with a new version of it, they sell the older version cheaper.
Palm seems to be going after multiple phone products that (according to them) target different markets. So it's not a prequel/sequel thing. If/when a new Pre comes out, they current Pre will probably sell for much cheaper.
I don't think this is confusing at all. It just offers more choices for those who want a webOS device.
Aren't you comparing this incorrectly? Apple has one phone product; the iPhone. When they come out with a new version of it, they sell the older version cheaper.
Palm seems to be going after multiple phone products that (according to them) target different markets. So it's not a prequel/sequel thing. If/when a new Pre comes out, they current Pre will probably sell for much cheaper.
I don't think this is confusing at all. It just offers more choices for those who want a webOS device.
Palm has been great with new updates nearly every month. IF they continue at the same pace everything in my wish list will be added by next year.
To the person who wants a snapdragon at 1GHz, PRE is not using its graphics core yet, once every resource is being utilized to its full potential the responsiveness will improve dramatically. PRE is the most powerful device on the market right now (iphone 3GS uses the same processor/gpu combination but speeds are unknown).
Yes, I personally think webOS's use of hardware should be the #1 priority for users, developers, and Palm alike.
Current Hardware Usage Issues:
- Odd RAM Errors
- No CPU Scaling
- Dead GPU
- Tiny, Static App Partition
Solve these, and the Pre is like a brand new device.
There are some good points in the comments, but I do think Sprint's shooting itself and Palm in the feet with mail-in rebates. I'm glad Best Buy doesn't use them, anymore.
Btw, I think the Pixi's a neat device - just not for this Prē-vert.
I concur, since sprint is so hung up on doing rebates for every phone than the Pixi should be $79.99 aftfer a $50.00 mail in rebate. That would be fine especially because the Pixi would also be $79.99 without a rebate at Best Buy and Radioshack. Don't get me wrong I love the Pixi I think it is a great phone but personally I don't think it is worth exactly that of the iPhone 3G because it doesn't have WiFi... Other than that I suppose it is the same I mean it even has a faster processor than the 3G and a better GPU.
My phone is a Pixiiiiiiiiiii!!!
This device should be $69.99. Touch stone back is perfect @ 19.99 and artist series should be $29.99.
Regarding the rebate:
It's typical Sprint with their stupid mail-in rebate. I mean come on, the only reason a company does mail-in rebates is because they are hoping some people will procrastinate past the 30 days and not send in their form and get to keep the $100. So, really, what does it say about a company with that sort of policy?
Regarding the Price:
I think $100 is just right. However, for an extra $50 you get much more with the pre, and an extra $50 for a two-year device isn't that much more. I feel a lot of people will still opt for the pre, even if they are in the target demographic. Maybe they should make it lower...like $80 or $90?
Except at my local Sprint store, they help you fill out the rebate form and send it in immediately.
The "retail" price is at $99 so they can put it on sale. They'll get the early adopters for 2 weeks and then lower the price for the holiday rush after Thanksgiving. Perhaps they'll just milk it for the holidays and then lower it the first of 2010. My kids' phone contract is up in March. I'm confident the Pixi will be nice and cheap by then and my teens will love it.
AM I the only on who thinks no Wi-Fi = FAIL?
$249 for a smartphone without WiFi?
Even at $99, it's lame.
But I looooooooooooooove the form factor.
I'll wait for the Pixi 2 in Q3 of 2010.
My wife's getting one. She loves webOS but hates the form factor of the Pre.
And for what it's worth, she couldn't care less about WiFi. (I'm not saying this is right or wrong, just saying how it is. For her, WiFi -- or lack thereof -- is a complete non-issue.)
/Kevin
WiFi is a non-issue for me as well. I turn it off when I'm on the road, and I have forgotten to turn it back on when I'm back at home/the office, because it just isn't that tremendous of a leap.
WiFi is overrated, basically. This was a good engineering choice.
All things being equal, my basic Sprint connection is as fast or faster than when I am connected to WiFi. Plus, WiFi makes the already poor battery life even worse. Like you I almost never use it. My wife uses hers all the time though on her iPhone.
But as we know, Sprint doesn't have great 3G coverage everywhere and WiFi gives you another option when travelling.
Sprint really should have included it.
to expensive for this phone with its limited abilities
As far as the price, can't say for sure yet, but The Shack and maybe Best Buy will probably eat the cost of the rebate as they usually do and push the phone for $99 out the door. Only time will tell however.
"No word on the artist series covers - availability or price.
We like the price on the artist covers."
This does not make any sense.
I believe he meant "We like the price on the Touchstone cover."
At $19, I don't agree.
I wonder if dropping the price even $30 would really make a big difference. I think anyone that is really so price sensative would realize that Sprint's monthly rates are such a value that they'll more than make up a $50 difference in the first year of the contract.
I cat believe a back would cost $30. That's 30% of the payment for the phone. I don't think customers will consider the full cost w/o subsidy when making this comparison. I mean, that's a whole phone w/ an OS, keyboard, touchscreen, radios, memory, vs. a back? Lame.
Interesting poll results :)
Im fine with my Pre cuz it was EXACTLY what i was looking for like since 2006. Im pretty sure users will be very satisfied with the pixi if it covers all of their needs!
I just hope it does sell well for palm.
yes... if it would be 2006 now, I would also be impressed with the palm pre/pixie. but as we are now in 2009, I'm not impressed. :)
Haha I know! That's why I sais I was just fine with the pre. Wasn't really impressed either, but I stull love it ;D
Definitively not changing the pixi for my pre tho!
Am I the only one that noticed this strange line:
In addition to linking information from Google™, Facebook®, Microsoft® Exchange ActiveSync® and LinkedIn®, Palm Pixi adds Yahoo!® integration to Palm Synergy™3.
I didn't know they were using version numbers on Synergy.
Synergy 3?
It's a footnote:
1 “Dependable” based on independent, third-party drive tests for 3G data connection success, session reliability, and signal strength for the top 50 most populous U.S. markets (including PR) from January 2008 to July 2009. Not all services are available on 3G, and coverage may default to a separate network when 3G is unavailable.
2 Within wireless coverage area only. Email, mobile number and related information required for setup and activation. Required data plan not included; unlimited plan strongly recommended.
3 Limitations apply. Layered calendars and linked contacts for Outlook require Exchange ActiveSync and Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 SP2 or later, sold separately.
4 Savings based on publicly available information comparing AT&T Nation Unlimited plus required iPhone data plan and optional unlimited text messaging totaling $149.99/month for AT&T as of publication date, excluding taxes, surcharges and fees. iPhone is a registered trademark of Apple Inc.
5 Coverage comparison based on publicly available information as of 4/01/09 inclusive of Sprint roaming partners. Based on square miles. Coverage comparison based on publicly available information as of 4/1/09 inclusive of Sprint roaming partners. Based on square miles.
Palm, Pixi, Synergy, Touchstone and webOS are trademarks of Palm, Inc.
Still have a Centro. It's darn good, better than the 650 I used to have. I'll get my Pre when Splash ID is native and has a desk-top sync.
I cannot fathom how they can sell a phone these days without WiFi. That neither my 650 nor Centro had it was, apparently a OS issue. Now, with WebOS, it's not.
Wifi when: you are on an airplane (yes for some, soon for others, eventually all), when you are outside the USA (given Sprint is not GSM), out in the "boondocks" but at a hotel with WiFi, or deep in a basements w/o signal but with WiFi.
Gads.
Or wifi tethering..
Go to Best Buy for the out the door $99 price!
I like the Pixi form factor better, but $50 isn't much of discount factored over a year or two. And giving up wi-fi, and being even slower than the already not too snappy Pre, I just don't see it.
If it were $99 with wi-fi, or $79 without, I think it would have a much better shot. Heck, if they made it equal in specs to the Pre, at the same price, I bet a lot of people would choose it over the Pre just to avoid all the slider issues.
What about the fact that the Pre is already $99.00? http://shopping.aol.com/articles/2009/09/25/palm-pre-price-drop-99
I'm very confused. Is anybody else confused about this?
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